Charged for miles we drive?

I was listening to Lars Larson yesterday, 4/14/08, and was appalled about what he was reporting, it seems our esteemed governor is not satisfied with the punishment inflicted on the Oregon taxpayer. Now he wants to punish us even more with his harebrained scheme to put GPS-like systems in our automobiles and we would be required to pay more at the pump depending on the times we drive and how far we drive. This is absolutely ridiculous and he needs to be stopped.

Every working individual will be punished for going to work. Our tax burden is already punishing for most people. Wake up, Oregonians, and put a stop to this insanity at the Capitol!

We just returned home from Arizona and in California we paid as much as $4 per gallon on the coast and felt as though we were getting gouged. Oregonians and the American people need to wake up and start protesting this injustice to working people, and everyone in general.

I don’t know who to put the blame on, the government, oil companies, environmental wackos for not allowing new refineries, etc., but we need to get busy and call our representatives, senators and the governors office and protest. Do something!

Patricia J. Beck, Lebanon

Support Extension district

A petition drive is currently being conducted among Linn County registered voters to place a measure on the November ballot to form the “Linn County 4-H and Extension Service District.”

This measure, if approved by the voters in November, would establish the district and set a maximum rate of $0.07 per $1,000 of assessed value (that would be $14 per year on a $200,000 property).

The proposed district as defined in ORS. 451.010 (Agricultural Education Extension Services) would be established under ORS.451.485.

This would be a unique district in that revenues collected would remain under control of the Linn County commissioners and their budget committee just as county funding of the Extension Service is currently. Extension has been a part of the Linn County government for nearly 100 years. Revenues raised could only be used for Extension programs and services.

Lyle Jack, Albany

The errant possessive

It was with great anticipation that I read the article headlined “Oregon’s trying to lure traveling European’s” in the April 7 Democrat-Herald. After this stunning tease of a headline, to my great dismay, the article never revealed the identity of the elusive traveling European nor was there even a hint as to what this European’s sought-after possession might be.

Could it have been a suitcase, or perhaps even a fish? (Such a clever clue, I thought, to use the word “lure” in that headline!)

Imagine then my utter disappointment when I realized this wasn’t a fish story. Then to my even deeper dismay it finally dawned on me that our esteemed paper has perpetrated yet another abuse upon the hapless apostrophe!

The apostrophe is perhaps the single most abused punctuation mark of all time. It performs many functions, and perfectly shows us the possessive, but it does not form the plural of a noun. Simply add an “s” and we are done.

Melvin T. Rollema, Albany

He will be greatly missed

Brett Chytraus was an outstanding volunteer peer court judge for the past four years for the Linn County Youth Peer Court program. He inspired many youth volunteers and offenders alike throughout his service to this worthwhile program. His care and concern shone through each and every time he sat on the bench.

He inspired many and set a wonderful example for all of us to follow. He had a calling to serve others, and he did it well.

He passed away March 16, 2008, and will be greatly missed, but never forgotten. It was a privilege to have known him.

Jill Morgan, Cindy Parker, and Ron Jacobsen, Albany

Don’t downplay torture news

Where is the coverage in this newspaper on the latest news regarding our current president and his approval of torture? It seems to me this should be on the front page, and that reporters ought to be investigating it and reporting on it. Why isn’t this being done? Does this imply that the American public doesn’t care? Or, does it mean that our news media doesn’t care? Does it mean that the White House

doesn’t want the news media to cover this groundbreaking, heartbreaking issue?

What does it mean that our country, which prides itself on its democratic principles and its freedoms, isn’t outraged that torture is being conducted in our name?

This is a very important issue and news about it in regards to our current president is out there waiting for attention. I would appreciate it if the Albany-Democrat Herald would do a better job in reporting it to us.

Leonora Rianda, Albany

Republicans don’t know math

Is it obvious that Republicans, as a whole, are mathematically challenged? I doubt they could pass a first-grade math test.

With our nation upside-down in debt due to out-of-control spending on an unnecessary war and pork-barrel contracts, Halliburton Republican math says cut taxes.

McCain says we need to build a stronger military and in the same breath cut taxes. He also says we may be in Iraq for 100 years, so cut taxes.

Everyone agrees our national infrastructure must be rebuilt, but the Republicans say cut taxes. Tax cuts are the universal Republican solution. If this worked, we should all go to our employers and ask for wage cuts to pay our bills. If that works for paying government debt then it should work for everyone; then again maybe Republicans didn’t outgrow their belief in the tooth fairy.

Doyle Winston, Brownsville

Not on street corners

In response to Toni Henderson’s response to my letter, I never said that I disliked memorials. What I said was they have their place and street corners isn’t it. What was edited out of my first letter was that my grandfather has a bench at the zoo. Why? Because instead of putting a memorial where he died we put one where he enjoyed life.

I am sure that this young girl enjoyed a park or, as everyone has stated, she was a great student at West, so why not put a bench or plant a tree with her name on it so that generations of students remember how great she was?

As far as praying, can you imagine how often you would be praying if every one that lost someone on the roadways took this avenue?

So instead of praying for their loss, do as I do and say a little prayer every day for people that have lost someone that day, for them to go on and live life to the fullest and remember those they have lost for how they lived and not for how they lost their life.

Debra McLain, Albany